Hernandez’s latest homer provides winning margin

Michael Hernandez hit two more home runs Friday night, including his second extra-innings game-winner of the month, as the Patriots defeated the Camden Riversharks 5-4 in 10 innings at Campbell’s Field.

The slugger has four home runs in his last 12 at-bats dating back to a 12th-inning game-winner Aug. 10 at the York Revolution. He did not play from Aug. 13-21 because of a pulled quad but homered Sunday in his first at-bat back.

Hernandez also led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to break a scoreless tie and start a four-run outburst.

Noah Hall added two-run homer and Wayne Lydon delivered a two-out RBI single. Lydon’s single scored Joe Holden, who came off the bench to run after Elliott Ayala was hit by a pitch.

It was not clear where Ayala was struck, though he appeared to be bleeding from the face before being removed.

The Riversharks answered with three runs in the fifth.

With two runs home and two outs, Brian Burgamy extended the rally with a RBI single before Raul Padron struck out and stranded the potential tying run at third base.

Padron was the final batter faced by starter Jason Monti, who struck out six but surrendered four hits and three walks.

The Patriots were four outs away from victory when deja vu hit for reliever Jeff Kennard.

Kennard, who yielded the game-winning two-out hit into the right-field corner in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s loss, gave up a game-tying two-out RBI triple into the right-field corner to Juan Francia.

Jerry Dunn (3-2) tossed a scoreless ninth for the win, which was saved by Scott Williamson. Ryan McKeller (4-6) was on the wrong end of Hernandez’s second homer.

The Patriots went 3-1 in the series, which featured four games decided by a total of five runs.

About Ryan Dunleavy

Ryan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.

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Mike AshmoreA lifelong resident of the Three Bridges section of Readington, Mike Ashmore is a 2001 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School who began his career covering professional sports two years later. Since then, he's covered countless other teams and events ranging from the Stanley Cup Final to the UFC as a freelancer working in the area. Mike will add to his over 450 games of experience covering the Somerset Patriots by finishing out the season as MyCentralJersey.com's beat writer for the team.E-mail Mike

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan